2008 | Meerlust | Rubicon

This vintage exhibits a deep, intense ruby colour and offers a complex nose of blackcurrant, black cherries, plums, and a hint of cedar, along with some earthy and spicy undertones. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with a rich, velvety texture, and well-integrated tannins. The flavours of dark fruit, chocolate, and subtle hints of vanilla are complemented by a well-balanced acidity and a long, lingering finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2008 Rubicon is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc that is raised in French oak for 20 months (65% new). It has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, black truffle and tar. The palate is well balanced with supple tannins. There is a core of earthy red berry fruit infused with allspice, cumin and a touch of sage. The finish is very well defined and long. This is a far better Rubicon than the 2007, one worthy of its iconic status.

Producer Information

Meerlust is a wine producer in South Africa's famous Stellenbosch region. It is notable for its Bordeaux-styled Rubicon wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, but also makes wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The estate is named for its ocean view – Meerlust meaning 'pleasure of the ocean'. The vineyards benefit from cooling ocean breezes and evening mists during the summer, which helps lengthen the growing season and allows grapes to ripen more slowly (a major factor in resulting flavor intensity). The deep soils are rich in clay and granite, which is excellent for the Bordeaux varieties: Merlot on the rich clay and Cabernet on the well-drained granite. Pinot Noir is planted in the most elevated part of the vineyard, where it is cooler. Meerlust has been owned by the Myburgh family since 1756 and today is run by the eighth generation, Hannes Myburgh. The estate's modern era began in the 1960s when Nico Myburgh visited Bordeaux and brought back his learnings on grape varieties and blending in particular, believing Bordeaux and Stellenbosch to have similar terroir. The flagship wine, Rubicon, first made in 1984, is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and was one of South Africa's first blended wines. It is only made when the vintage is deemed good enough. Rubicon has been "declassified" to the Meerlust Red label in only five vintages, however. These are: 1985, 1990, 2002, 2011 and, most recently, the 2019.

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